Analysis: The good, the bad and the surprising 2014 Emmy nominations

Mindy Kaling and from left, Bruce Rosenblum, Television Academy chairman and CEO, and Carson Daly announce the nominations for outstanding drama series at the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards nominations announcement on Thursday, July 10, 2014, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Tonya Wise/Invision/AP)

The 66th Primetime Emmy Awards nominations list is so right in so many areas, let’s get right to what went wrong, or at least was surprising.

Jeff Daniels in the lead actor category, rather than Michael Sheen (“Masters of Sex”) or James Spader (“The Blacklist”)?
“The Americans” snubbed?

Jeff Daniels as Will McAvoy in the news drama series, “The Newsroom.” Daniels was nominated for an Emmy Award for best actor in a drama series on, Thursday July 10, 2014. (AP Photo/HBO, Melissa Moseley)

“True Detective,” a miniseries, hogged a spot on the drama series list that could have gone to “The Good Wife.” Julianna Marguiles at least nabbed a best dramatic actress nod.

Among the most regrettably overlooked: Tatiana Maslany of “Orphan Black.”

“Modern Family” made history with a fifth nom, Netflix did very well with both “Orange is the New Black” and “House of Cards” making the cut, plus Robin Wright and Kevin Spacey (House of Cards”) and Taylor Schilling (“OITNB”) in the best actor/actress categories. In general, cable continues to rule the drama category.

So glad to see Lizzy Caplan of “Masters of Sex” on the best dramatic actress list; heartened to see newcomer “Silicon Valley” on the comedy list, although my dream
emmy ballot would have included “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.”

In short, there’s so much award-worthy television at the moment, it’s inevitable some favorites will be snubbed. But, “The Americans”! Really?

“Modern Family” made history with a fifth nomination for Best Comedy Series ( Photo provided by ABC)

I’m starting to think that someone with The Americans must have really ticked off members of the television academy…either that, or they’ve really got to send out better promotional materials to the voters. And you’re right–True Detective totally used a loophole to earn a Drama Series nod, which could have gone to either The Good Wife or The Americans. These things don’t really matter…but the politics and trickery has gotten a bit out of control.

Jamesaust

Indeed, the absence of The Americans is quite a surprise.

And while I wouldn’t think it would win much, The Walking Dead is certainly as worthy as any of the lesser-runs nominated. (A sign of continued bias against scifi/fantasy? Beware Game of Thrones. You may end up taking home little despite all those nominations.)

Coloradan_by_Choice

The Emmys, not unlike the rest of the “awards”, are woefully out of touch with most viewers and typically amount to no more than Hollywood “notables” and notable wannbees patting one another on the back. There simply is no credibility.

Tom Brown

True Detective much better than standard fare served up by The Good Wifey.

Joanne Ostrow has been watching TV since before "reality" required quotation marks. "Hill Street Blues" was life-changing. If Dickens, Twain or Agatha Christie were alive today, they'd be writing for television. And proud of it.